Cassie Smith (she/her)
@cassiesmith.bsky.social
Feminist geographer and cargo bike mom.
Volunteer: Bike Ottawa VP, For Our Kids, Kidical Mass championing safe, sustainable, fun, and equitable spaces especially for kids.
Work: Transportation strategy and solutions with EnviroCentre. Views my own.
Volunteer: Bike Ottawa VP, For Our Kids, Kidical Mass championing safe, sustainable, fun, and equitable spaces especially for kids.
Work: Transportation strategy and solutions with EnviroCentre. Views my own.
Pinned
What a week BlueSky! Welcome new followers! 👋🏻 I mostly post about kids, bikes, & kid-carrying bikes along with climate action and local happenings in Ottawa.
This all ramped up 3.5 years ago, when (in the span of ONE month) I:
- had a (2nd) baby
- got a cargo bike
- was accepted into grad school
This all ramped up 3.5 years ago, when (in the span of ONE month) I:
- had a (2nd) baby
- got a cargo bike
- was accepted into grad school
Reposted by Cassie Smith (she/her)
Join us for a free webinar as we explore practical examples of programs that successfully shift travel behaviour for kids and their families.
🗓️ Wed, Nov 19
⏲️ 12-1:00 PM PST
Find out how these programs can be adapted and replicated in other communities.
REGISTER: https://ow.ly/eure50XmK9I
🗓️ Wed, Nov 19
⏲️ 12-1:00 PM PST
Find out how these programs can be adapted and replicated in other communities.
REGISTER: https://ow.ly/eure50XmK9I
November 10, 2025 at 8:05 PM
Join us for a free webinar as we explore practical examples of programs that successfully shift travel behaviour for kids and their families.
🗓️ Wed, Nov 19
⏲️ 12-1:00 PM PST
Find out how these programs can be adapted and replicated in other communities.
REGISTER: https://ow.ly/eure50XmK9I
🗓️ Wed, Nov 19
⏲️ 12-1:00 PM PST
Find out how these programs can be adapted and replicated in other communities.
REGISTER: https://ow.ly/eure50XmK9I
This may help me to take up knitting again 😂
Urbanist knitters, I need you to know about these mittens: www.ravelry.com/patterns/lib...
"Fuck Cars" Mittens pattern by Erin Megenity
Prepare to show off your love of bikes and become the envy of your urbanist friends with these “Fuck Cars” Mittens! Inspired by my husband, I designed these mittens for those of us who don’t let cold ...
www.ravelry.com
November 10, 2025 at 4:37 PM
This may help me to take up knitting again 😂
Also Canadians:
That's my friend riding their winterized unicycle (yes, sometimes we all know each other).
That's my friend riding their winterized unicycle (yes, sometimes we all know each other).
“no one rides in the winter”
Canadians:
Canadians:
Good morning to the person who passed me on a winterized unicycle (?!) as I was walking to the LRT this morning.
November 10, 2025 at 2:24 PM
Also Canadians:
That's my friend riding their winterized unicycle (yes, sometimes we all know each other).
That's my friend riding their winterized unicycle (yes, sometimes we all know each other).
Reposted by Cassie Smith (she/her)
SAVE THE DATE
We’re organising a rally to protest against Bill 60. Details:
Marion Dewar Plaza
City Hall
Thursday, November 13
8:30am
More info here:
bikeottawa.ca/2025/11/09/r...
We’re organising a rally to protest against Bill 60. Details:
Marion Dewar Plaza
City Hall
Thursday, November 13
8:30am
More info here:
bikeottawa.ca/2025/11/09/r...
Rally to protest Bill 60
Dear residents, Next Thursday, Bike Ottawa is organising a rally to protest Bill 60 that, among other things, will ban any new bike lanes involving road reconfiguration. Whether you bike, walk, rol…
bikeottawa.ca
November 9, 2025 at 8:50 PM
SAVE THE DATE
We’re organising a rally to protest against Bill 60. Details:
Marion Dewar Plaza
City Hall
Thursday, November 13
8:30am
More info here:
bikeottawa.ca/2025/11/09/r...
We’re organising a rally to protest against Bill 60. Details:
Marion Dewar Plaza
City Hall
Thursday, November 13
8:30am
More info here:
bikeottawa.ca/2025/11/09/r...
Reposted by Cassie Smith (she/her)
Reposted by Cassie Smith (she/her)
Ontario property assessments haven't been done since 2016 and it's getting ridiculous. Suburban homes are paying much lower property taxes than they should be.
Annual property taxes:
↙️ $8575 | $6360 ↘️
Annual property taxes:
↙️ $8575 | $6360 ↘️
November 9, 2025 at 12:09 AM
Ontario property assessments haven't been done since 2016 and it's getting ridiculous. Suburban homes are paying much lower property taxes than they should be.
Annual property taxes:
↙️ $8575 | $6360 ↘️
Annual property taxes:
↙️ $8575 | $6360 ↘️
Reposted by Cassie Smith (she/her)
We’re fighting for our children. They deserve a safe cycling environment to:
Get around on their own steam
Go to school, the library
Go for a fun ride with friends
Join us in opposing Ford’s regressive policies. Send a letter opposing Bill 60 now! Please share!
www.horizonottawa.ca/back_off_ford
Get around on their own steam
Go to school, the library
Go for a fun ride with friends
Join us in opposing Ford’s regressive policies. Send a letter opposing Bill 60 now! Please share!
www.horizonottawa.ca/back_off_ford
November 8, 2025 at 1:04 PM
We’re fighting for our children. They deserve a safe cycling environment to:
Get around on their own steam
Go to school, the library
Go for a fun ride with friends
Join us in opposing Ford’s regressive policies. Send a letter opposing Bill 60 now! Please share!
www.horizonottawa.ca/back_off_ford
Get around on their own steam
Go to school, the library
Go for a fun ride with friends
Join us in opposing Ford’s regressive policies. Send a letter opposing Bill 60 now! Please share!
www.horizonottawa.ca/back_off_ford
Reposted by Cassie Smith (she/her)
This is really grim.
But have you ever had to park your car half a block further than you wanted to?
www.cbsnews.com/news/dolphin...
But have you ever had to park your car half a block further than you wanted to?
www.cbsnews.com/news/dolphin...
Hundreds of dolphins found dead in Amazon lake were in water hotter than a jacuzzi, study finds
"You couldn't put your finger in the water," said the lead author of the study, which spotlights the impacts of planetary warming on aquatic ecosystems.
www.cbsnews.com
November 8, 2025 at 4:18 PM
This is really grim.
But have you ever had to park your car half a block further than you wanted to?
www.cbsnews.com/news/dolphin...
But have you ever had to park your car half a block further than you wanted to?
www.cbsnews.com/news/dolphin...
Transportation planning relies on assumptions that this is how people make decisions.
But obviously most of us are not doing these calculations for every trip we make (or ever!).
This is why people need information & opportunities that invite them to think more about how they get around.
But obviously most of us are not doing these calculations for every trip we make (or ever!).
This is why people need information & opportunities that invite them to think more about how they get around.
I'm taking a day trip to Hamilton with my son. We could take a Communauto car share car, or a hypothetical car we own, or GO train and then a bus, or GO train and then taxi. Which will be cheapest and fastest? Let's calculate!
November 8, 2025 at 4:41 PM
Transportation planning relies on assumptions that this is how people make decisions.
But obviously most of us are not doing these calculations for every trip we make (or ever!).
This is why people need information & opportunities that invite them to think more about how they get around.
But obviously most of us are not doing these calculations for every trip we make (or ever!).
This is why people need information & opportunities that invite them to think more about how they get around.
We could make this happen again!
November 7, 2025 at 2:13 AM
We could make this happen again!
It would be pretty fun if the City of Ottawa/NCC/Fed gov could reallocate as many lanes in Ottawa as possible to for active transportation just to mess with Ford.
“Plans to expand bike infrastructure in Ottawa are at risk amid proposed Ontario legislation that would bar municipalities from building new bike-lanes if they remove a lane of vehicle traffic.”
What do cities do when a provincial premier deliberately makes them more dangerous and less successful?
What do cities do when a provincial premier deliberately makes them more dangerous and less successful?
Ottawa cyclists, councillors frustrated as Ontario bill targets bike lanes
Bill 60 could prove to be a major roadblock as Ottawa attempts to expand its bike lane infrastructure.
ottawacitizen.com
November 7, 2025 at 2:02 AM
It would be pretty fun if the City of Ottawa/NCC/Fed gov could reallocate as many lanes in Ottawa as possible to for active transportation just to mess with Ford.
Reposted by Cassie Smith (she/her)
Local woman wakes up, starts the Oatmeal Union, a super union designed to help struggling unions make effective changes, organize additional workplaces to start unions and to block the communication systems of anti union people with oatmeal, makes oatmeal.
November 3, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Local woman wakes up, starts the Oatmeal Union, a super union designed to help struggling unions make effective changes, organize additional workplaces to start unions and to block the communication systems of anti union people with oatmeal, makes oatmeal.
Reposted by Cassie Smith (she/her)
The ON government will bypass committee hearings entirely on Bill 60. 😡
This gov. is:
➡️ putting people’s lives at risk
➡️ stripping cities of the power to make their streets safe for people outside cars
We can’t afford to remain silent. Voice your opposition now! 👇
bikeottawa.ca/2025/11/06/b...
This gov. is:
➡️ putting people’s lives at risk
➡️ stripping cities of the power to make their streets safe for people outside cars
We can’t afford to remain silent. Voice your opposition now! 👇
bikeottawa.ca/2025/11/06/b...
Bill 60: Ontario government bypasses democratic process
After steamrolling through Bill 56 that bans speed cameras, the Ontario government is planning on bypassing the democratic process again (ie no public committee hearings) for Bill 60, the so-called…
bikeottawa.ca
November 6, 2025 at 4:47 PM
The ON government will bypass committee hearings entirely on Bill 60. 😡
This gov. is:
➡️ putting people’s lives at risk
➡️ stripping cities of the power to make their streets safe for people outside cars
We can’t afford to remain silent. Voice your opposition now! 👇
bikeottawa.ca/2025/11/06/b...
This gov. is:
➡️ putting people’s lives at risk
➡️ stripping cities of the power to make their streets safe for people outside cars
We can’t afford to remain silent. Voice your opposition now! 👇
bikeottawa.ca/2025/11/06/b...
Reposted by Cassie Smith (she/her)
Regarding Prime Minister Carney’s federal budget: I don’t pretend to fully know it, and there are elements that concern me, but if I were the NDP I’d pledge to support it if a significant investment in urban public transit (nation-building, climate etc) was added, and if I were PM Carney I’d agree.
November 5, 2025 at 10:57 PM
Regarding Prime Minister Carney’s federal budget: I don’t pretend to fully know it, and there are elements that concern me, but if I were the NDP I’d pledge to support it if a significant investment in urban public transit (nation-building, climate etc) was added, and if I were PM Carney I’d agree.
Reposted by Cassie Smith (she/her)
🚇Your voice matters!
Fill out the International Bus Benchmarking Group’s annual survey. Your feedback can help shape the future of transit.
Take the survey here 👉 www.octranspo.com/en...
Fill out the International Bus Benchmarking Group’s annual survey. Your feedback can help shape the future of transit.
Take the survey here 👉 www.octranspo.com/en...
November 5, 2025 at 10:14 PM
🚇Your voice matters!
Fill out the International Bus Benchmarking Group’s annual survey. Your feedback can help shape the future of transit.
Take the survey here 👉 www.octranspo.com/en...
Fill out the International Bus Benchmarking Group’s annual survey. Your feedback can help shape the future of transit.
Take the survey here 👉 www.octranspo.com/en...
Reposted by Cassie Smith (she/her)
Thanks to everyone who attended our online budget consultation meeting last night. Both @jleiper.bsky.social and I heard you loud and clear: you want a city that works, one that is affordable and one where no one gets left behind.
November 5, 2025 at 10:20 PM
Thanks to everyone who attended our online budget consultation meeting last night. Both @jleiper.bsky.social and I heard you loud and clear: you want a city that works, one that is affordable and one where no one gets left behind.
Reposted by Cassie Smith (she/her)
This is the most harmful budget from a climate perspective since the Harper era. It's a complete abdication of climate responsibilities, and while at least $3 billion in climate funding gets cut, taxpayer supports for oil and gas are set to grow.
Great breakdown @hadrianmk.bsky.social
Great breakdown @hadrianmk.bsky.social
Oil and gas trumps climate action in brutal federal budget
The budget makes clear that fossil fuel production for export is a central pillar of this government’s economic strategy — and that it won’t let climate measures get in the way.
www.nationalobserver.com
November 4, 2025 at 9:50 PM
This is the most harmful budget from a climate perspective since the Harper era. It's a complete abdication of climate responsibilities, and while at least $3 billion in climate funding gets cut, taxpayer supports for oil and gas are set to grow.
Great breakdown @hadrianmk.bsky.social
Great breakdown @hadrianmk.bsky.social
Reposted by Cassie Smith (she/her)
The massive cuts - $57 billion - is 40 per cent more than proposed in Carney's platform
It translates into 40,000 job losses and cuts to public transit, international assistance and energy efficiency
It translates into 40,000 job losses and cuts to public transit, international assistance and energy efficiency
There’s no olive branch for the NDP in today’s federal budget--might Canada be plunged into another election? Full CCPA analysis of the budget is now live: www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc...
Post-election budget could plunge Canada into another federal election - CCPA
With so much on the line, the newly elected federal government has tabled a budget that, in many ways, could pass as a Conservative budget.
www.policyalternatives.ca
November 4, 2025 at 10:58 PM
The massive cuts - $57 billion - is 40 per cent more than proposed in Carney's platform
It translates into 40,000 job losses and cuts to public transit, international assistance and energy efficiency
It translates into 40,000 job losses and cuts to public transit, international assistance and energy efficiency
Reposted by Cassie Smith (she/her)
Sweet ride to the polls @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social welcome to the Bunch fam!!!!!
#bunchfam #cargobike #omg #nyc
#bunchfam #cargobike #omg #nyc
November 4, 2025 at 9:59 PM
Sweet ride to the polls @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social welcome to the Bunch fam!!!!!
#bunchfam #cargobike #omg #nyc
#bunchfam #cargobike #omg #nyc
Reposted by Cassie Smith (she/her)
Interested in learning about the 2026 budget, how to delegate, and key topics to touch on?
Join us for our first ever monthly workshop! We'll be covering issues like long-term infrastructure gaps, transit funding, and more!
Nov 6th, 6:15-7:15pm at St. Peter's Lutheran Church
luma.com/h1t4z42r
Join us for our first ever monthly workshop! We'll be covering issues like long-term infrastructure gaps, transit funding, and more!
Nov 6th, 6:15-7:15pm at St. Peter's Lutheran Church
luma.com/h1t4z42r
November 4, 2025 at 4:11 PM
Interested in learning about the 2026 budget, how to delegate, and key topics to touch on?
Join us for our first ever monthly workshop! We'll be covering issues like long-term infrastructure gaps, transit funding, and more!
Nov 6th, 6:15-7:15pm at St. Peter's Lutheran Church
luma.com/h1t4z42r
Join us for our first ever monthly workshop! We'll be covering issues like long-term infrastructure gaps, transit funding, and more!
Nov 6th, 6:15-7:15pm at St. Peter's Lutheran Church
luma.com/h1t4z42r
Reposted by Cassie Smith (she/her)
“The rebirth of bike share in North America is here”
Off the back of NABSA 2025, Zag sits down with Diamond Sponsor Urban Sharing to unpack how the conference showcased a bike share renaissance taking shape across North America.
Read more: zagdaily.com/featured/the...
Off the back of NABSA 2025, Zag sits down with Diamond Sponsor Urban Sharing to unpack how the conference showcased a bike share renaissance taking shape across North America.
Read more: zagdaily.com/featured/the...
November 3, 2025 at 5:03 PM
“The rebirth of bike share in North America is here”
Off the back of NABSA 2025, Zag sits down with Diamond Sponsor Urban Sharing to unpack how the conference showcased a bike share renaissance taking shape across North America.
Read more: zagdaily.com/featured/the...
Off the back of NABSA 2025, Zag sits down with Diamond Sponsor Urban Sharing to unpack how the conference showcased a bike share renaissance taking shape across North America.
Read more: zagdaily.com/featured/the...
I'm at the #CUTA2025 conference in Montreal this week. Great presentation by @jedwinmok.com and @chittimarco.bsky.social about escalating transit costs in Canada. What do the countries with highest costs have in common? English is their primary language.
November 3, 2025 at 3:31 PM
I'm at the #CUTA2025 conference in Montreal this week. Great presentation by @jedwinmok.com and @chittimarco.bsky.social about escalating transit costs in Canada. What do the countries with highest costs have in common? English is their primary language.
Reposted by Cassie Smith (she/her)
The Auditor General recently released her second sprint audit for Lansdowne 2.0. The risks are very concerning and if realized will lead to tens of millions more in costs for the city of #Ottawa.
November 3, 2025 at 3:14 PM
The Auditor General recently released her second sprint audit for Lansdowne 2.0. The risks are very concerning and if realized will lead to tens of millions more in costs for the city of #Ottawa.
My husband and I both remember being 8 years old and cheering for the Jays in the World Series. It's been pretty special to share that with our 8 year old this week. Tonight he's even trying very hard to stay awake. Goooo Jays Go!
November 2, 2025 at 2:46 AM
My husband and I both remember being 8 years old and cheering for the Jays in the World Series. It's been pretty special to share that with our 8 year old this week. Tonight he's even trying very hard to stay awake. Goooo Jays Go!
Reposted by Cassie Smith (she/her)
Sure wish downtown churches (mine included) would advocate for better transit on weekends so that that would be a reasonable option for folks coming to church.
I have been relatively quiet on here this week, because my office has been dealing with a barrage of email from people who attend a particular church, upset about the addition of paid parking on Saturdays nearby. BTW: there 525 free parking spots within the 400m zone (and 202 spots within 200m).
November 1, 2025 at 3:27 PM
Sure wish downtown churches (mine included) would advocate for better transit on weekends so that that would be a reasonable option for folks coming to church.